FYC 3112 - University of Florida Family Youth and Community ...

• Exams will not be returned, but students can review their tests in the instructor’s office.
Written assignments and viewing guides will be returned to students to help prepare for
exams.
A Special Word on Writing and Speaking
Your writing reflects your thinking. Often, students enrolled in this course are transitioning from lower to
higher level university courses. Your coursework to this point may have involved memorizing definitions
and regurgitating these for a test. In this course, your ability to communicate well shows that you are
thinking and internalizing concepts so you can apply them. This is our goal, rather than simple
understanding of definitions. Here are a few guidelines on writing and speaking in class.
Writing:
• Write clearly and precisely. Don’t be vague—this shows that your thinking is vague, or that
you don’t understand or know the material.
• Elaborate. Explain thoroughly. Use examples and illustrations to make your point clear.
• Make logical transitions from one paragraph and idea to another.
• Use paragraphs to organize your ideas.
• Answer the question.
• Avoid jargon and slang. Use standard speech and writing conventions.
If you are unsure about your writing skills, the Teaching Center at Broward Hall can help.
http://www.at.ufl.edu/rwcenter/hours_location.html
Speaking:
• People often have opinions they like to share. Go beyond opinions to show that you are
thinking objectively about the facts presented in class and readings and analyzing this
material. Its’ easy to spout off opinions—show you are thinking about the concepts.
• Personal experience is a good place to start, can illustrate how things work, and can help you
apply concepts. It’s also a good way to connect with others. Be aware that at times personal
experience may limit your thinking. You may be asked to think of experiences in other ways.
• Share the floor, When you speak, be to-the-point. Try not to drift. Let others speak too.
• Shy people, I encourage you to speak out as much as possible to develop the essential art of
speaking in front of a group. Small group experiences may be more comfortable, and there
will be plenty of these during the semester.
Getting Help with your Academic Work
The instructor is available at regularly scheduled times to assist students with this class. If you cannot
meet during office hours, please set up an appointment for another time. It is best to get help as
problems occur. Do not wait until the end of the semester when it is difficult to correct situations that
occurred earlier in the semester.
Communication
Check your .ufl email every day for notices about class sent through the course listserv. Sometimes
students don’t check their email and they miss important information. You are responsible for checking
your ufl email for information about class. Please use my ufl.edu address; do not email me on the e-
learning site. If you have emailed me at my ufl address and a day passes and you have not heard back
from me, please feel free to email again or call. At times email goes to junk mail or spam filter, or I have a
day of meetings, and while I try to keep up, there is sometimes a lag. The important thing here is to
communicate whenever you need help, and to follow up if necessary.
Academic Honesty
The University requires all members of its community to be honest in all endeavors. Cheating, plagiarism,
and other acts diminish the process of learning. When you enroll at UF you promise to be honest. Your
instructor fully expects you to adhere to the academic honesty guidelines you signed when you were
admitted to UF.
As a result of completing the registration form at the University of Florida, every student has signed the
following statement: “I understand the University of Florida expects its students to be honest in all their
academic work. I agree to adhere to this commitment to academic honesty and understand that my failure
to comply with this commitment may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the